Physicists Salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Median annual salary $165,730 -0.3% vs national
Median hourly $79.68
10th percentile $64,520
90th percentile —
Employed locally 320
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Physicists
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Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $64,520
    25th
    $113,780
    50th (median)
    $165,730
    75th
    $231,580

    Philadelphia economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $89,273 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 186% Median Physicists salary is 86% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physicists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $226,750
    Cleveland, OH $225,930
    Minnesota $222,550
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $219,070
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340

    Nearby metros — Physicists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $219,070
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $212,050
    Pittsburgh, PA $211,600
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $146,350

    Related occupations in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $100,960
    Chemists $76,620
    Biochemists and Biophysicists $110,460
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $85,820
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $106,330
    Biological Technicians $56,660

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Philadelphia?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $79.68, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $129.46 or more per hour.

    Is Philadelphia above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 0.3% below the national median of $166,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physicists in Philadelphia?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $64,520 per year in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $113,780.